Some New Stuff and Some Lab Work

I got some cool new stuff fairly recently that I wanted to show off.

April 2014 Favorites

This is going to sound cliché, but I can't believe the month is over.  April just kind of got away from me.  Maybe it's because I'm so busy checking every day what is new in my garden.

Favorites of the past month:

Kat Von D Chrysalis Palette -- I've been wearing this almost everyday since I got it.  The packaging!  The colors!  The quality!  Did you know Kat Von D's line is made by Sephora?

Revlon Just Bitten Lip Balm Stain in Rendezvous -- A shimmery somewhat sheer orange with a great balmy texture.  Plus, it leaves a light stain on the lips.

Pretty Necklace -- I have no idea what to call this piece of jewelry, so "pretty necklace" will have to suffice.  I bought it years ago, and I don't remember what the stones are (most likely cubic zirconia, but possibly a pink topaz).  It's kind of dressy and fancy with the stones the climb up the chain, but I've been wearing everyday with my casual clothes anyway.

Betsey Johnson Hopeless Romantic Bucket handbag -- I've gotten tons of compliments on this bag.  It's large enough to carry a bunch of stuff, but not so big that it's like a piece of luggage.  I do wish the shorter strap with the studs was slightly longer so it's easier to put the bow back in place after the bag has been opened.

Prestige Total Intensity Eyeliner in Fierce Blue -- This is a great eyeliner.  It's incredibly creamy and smudgeable (is that a word?), but once it sets it's not moving.  It a very dark almost black navy blue with blue shimmer.  I wear this frequently on my lower waterline.

Here I am wearing my favorites:

Revlon Just Bitten Lip Balm Stain in Rendezvous, Prestige Total Intensity Eyeliner in Fierce Blue

A non-favorite: the chilly weather.  It's been at least 10 degrees Fahrenheit cooler than average recently.

Thanks for reading!

Christmas Gifts

I had a lovely, laid-back Christmas with my husband.  We slept in, opened gifts from each other, parents, and siblings, and went to see "The Desolation of Smaug"  in 3D.

My husband gave me these gorgeous earrings.

Beauty: NARS Nail Polish in Disco Inferno
                Marc Jacobs Lip Gel in Have We Met?
                Benefit Boxed Blush in Dallas
                Urban Decay Naked 3 Palette

Marc Jacobs Lip Gel in Have We Met?

Books: Classic Beauty: The History of Makeup
               I Am Malala
               Masters of the Planet: The Search For Our Human Origins (I studied anthropology
                                                                                  and hominid evolution in college.)

The earrings match the emerald ring my parents gave me for graduation from Michigan State (2003).
Green and white are MSU's school colors.

Favorite gifts I gave (highlights only, because otherwise this list would get long) (no pics -- sorry):
    Husband: cool dress shirts with various designs (flocked paisley, metallic pinstripe, etc)
    Dad: a huge book about opera houses their and architecture
    Mom: a collectable Detroit Starbucks mug (this was hard to find -- I had to stalk ebay)
    Sister: a bunch of Lush bath products, Benjamin Britton War Requiem cd
    Brother: fancy flashlight for camping, Dr. Who dvd
    Sister-in-law: Voluspa candle set (I kinda wanted to keep this for myself!)
    Niece and nephews (ages 9, 7, 5): cool t-shirts and hats with skulls, Despicable Me 2

So, what did you get?  What was your favorite gift you gave?

My Three Favorite Bracelets

I don't go a day without one of these gracing one of my wrists.

This first one was a gift from my sister.  She bought it when she was studying in India a few years ago and brought it back for me.  My mom has a matching bracelet.  I love the detailing on it.

This one was a gift from my mom.  She brought it back from Hawaii when she and my aunt went on vacation there last year.  It has both gold and silver, so it goes with everything, and I love the basket weave pattern.

My husband gave me this one several years ago that he got when he was on a trip in Boston.  It was a complete surprise!  I always get complements on it, and I think it is one of the coolest pieces of jewelry I own.  I feel so fashionable when I wear it.

These are all so special to me.